The strength of the options available to him means that Deschamps has been forced to leave out some terrific players, and that's before we mention injured stars such as Laurent Koscielny and Benjamin Mendy.

Sorry Didier, you can only have 23 (Image: AFP)

In fact, you can make a pretty strong XI out of the players the manager has left at home.

This XI, in fact...

Goalkeeper: Benoit Costil (Bordeaux)

No it's not Giroud, honest (Image: AFP)

The Olivier Giroud lookalike might not be a household name in many households outside of his own, but he's a solid Ligue 1 stopper and has impressed in his first season at Bordeaux following six years at Rennes.

On the standby list for the tournament, he kept a clean sheet on his only international appearance in 2016.

Right-back: Mathieu Debuchy (Saint-Etienne)

Bear with us, Gooners (Image: REUTERS)

Before Arsenal fans start groaning, the experienced right-back is experiencing something of a career renaissance back in his homeland with Saint-Etienne since joining them in January, and has even managed four goals in his 14 games.

There were calls in France for him to return to the squad and add to his 27 caps, but it isn't to be.

Centre-back: Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)

Fifty. Seven. Million. (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Manchester City spent £57m on defender Laporte in January, but he can have the summer off after failing to make the cut for the nation of his birth.

The 23-year-old - who is also eligible for Spain - is still waiting on his first senior French cap after playing at several youth levels.

Centre-back: Mamadou Sakho (Crystal Palace)

Sakho will be spending the summer in South London (well, not really) (Image: AFP)

Liverpool and Crystal Palace might have spent the best part of £50m on him over the years, but there's no room for Mamadou Sakho in Russia despite his key role in securing qualification for the 2014 World Cup with two goals in a playoff against Ukraine.

He hasn't played for his country for two years now though.

Left-back: Lucas Digne (Barcelona)

This French squad will be less Digne-fied (Image: REUTERS)

There won't be many stars from Barcelona's first-team who could have gone to the World Cup and won't be, but left-back Digne is one of them.

The former PSG and Roma defender played 27 times for Barca this season, but won't add to his 21 caps.

Midfield: Adrien Rabiot (PSG)

He looks like he's just found out (Image: AFP)

The thoughtful, stylish midfielder is never short of a thing or two to say about the goings on at PSG, but he won't be bringing his influence to the French squad this summer.

With six caps to his name, the 23-year-old - who spent a brief period at Manchester City as a youngster - still has a big future ahead of him though.

Midfield: Dimitri Payet (Marseille)

Ouch (Image: REUTERS)

His Europa League final injury might have made it impossible for him to play anyway, but Payet misses out despite flickering brightly during his first full season back at Marseille.

Now 31, he impressed at Euro 2016 two years ago but may well have missed out on his last chance to play at a World Cup.

Midfield: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)

You've still got time, Kingsley (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Nominally a winger, we've squeezed 21-year-old Coman into the team in midfield because... well, it's our team and we can do what we want, alright?

Formerly of PSG and Juventus, the 15 times capped star has remarkably ended up winning the league in each of his six seasons as a first-team professional, but he'll have to wait for the World Cup.

Forward: Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)

"Now where shall I go on my holidays?" (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Tipped for great things when he joined Arsenal last summer, neither Lacazette or the Gunners ended up achieving them.

The forward has scored three goals in his 16 appearances for his country, but he won't be adding to either total this summer.

Forward: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

"What have I done?" (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

It is now three years since Benzema - who is likely to start next week's Champions League final against Liverpool - played for his country, with the fallout over a blackmail row with former teammate Mathieu Valbeuna still dominating headlines in France.

He managed 27 goals before his exile, making him his nation's ninth-highest scorer ever.

Forward: Anthony Martial (Manchester United)

Happy now, Jose? (Image: Getty Images Europe)

The reasons behind Martial's stalling at Manchester United might be clear to some - *cough* Jose Mourinho *cough* - but the layer himself will surely have to re-evaluate his club career after missing out on the squad.

Now 22 he should be taking his place among the other exciting attacking talents in the world game right now but instead he's been shunted to the sidelines, so much so that a summer move seems inevitable.